Finding Time to Exercise

We are living in a world that runs on high speed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In order to keep up, we have to be smart in planning our time and scheduling the things that are really important. Unfortunately for moms, we tend to put ourselves last, thinking that once everything else gets done, we can have some time for ourselves. We are lucky if this happens once in a while. We all know how important it is to exercise and maintain good health, we have heard the lectures about how we are more healthy, better parents when we choose to exercise and how we will live longer and be around to enjoy our children. So here are some tips to help you fit exercise into your busy life.

Tip #1 Always be prepared

Have a bag with your gym clothes and anything else you need to workout on hand. Keep it in the trunk of your car, if you have some extra time at work, you can take a walk, or if you get off early you can stop by the gym on the way home. Always having what you need on hand, takes away that excuse.

Tip #2 Think ahead

If you chose one day of the week and cook several meals ahead of time, you will not only have extra time to take a walk with your kids, it will eliminate the fast food drive through stop if you have had an especially crazy day.

Tip #3 Dance Dance Dance

Put in your favorite music and call the kids in to dance with you. There are games that incorporate dance, like Twister Moves, or you can just freestyle. This is great quality time that you can spend with your kids, encouraging their creativity and teaching them that it can be fun to move.

Tip # 4 Make an Appointment

Set an alarm for when it is time to exercise, when it goes off, stop what you are doing and take some time to move. I want to say let your kids know this is mommies time to exercise, but when you have really little ones it can be hard. Do the best you can to keep the commitment you make to yourself, to take care of yourself and you will feel better in many ways.

Tip #5 Have a family activity night

There are many family traditions when a family eats together. Break the mold and create traditions where your family moves together. Take a walk after dinner, when it is warm enough outside. See how many different trees you can find or how many types of butterflies you can spot. When I walk with my kids, they go to bed better and they really love the time we spend outside. There are many other activities you can do as a family. Have a family meeting and brainstorm things that your family would love to do together.

These are some easy ways that you can find time to exercise. Remember that you are setting an example for your children, not only that it is important to exercise but that they need to take time to take care of themselves, this is a lesson that will serve them well in life.

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Let me show you howFinding Time for Exercise

dance music 2007